Saint Augustine trades in paper for iPads

LAREDO, TX (KGNS) - Forget about the traditional heavy backpack. Now students at St. Augustine have most of their textbooks on their I-Pad. The use of I-Pads in the classroom started this year. Sophomore Alexandria Smith said technology is now being looked at as positive in the school environment.

"Last year, we really didn't use our I-pads. We weren't allowed to take them out during class. This year, it's encouraged to use them more for educational purposes."

Inside this English classroom, students are given a SAT word. They use play dough to describe the word. They then make a short animation and other students have to guess the word.

"We are using I-motion, which is an app which allows you to make movies and we're using it for SAT words.

One of the good things for teachers, but bad for students is there is no more excuses. You can't accidentally leave your homework at home, and if you don't go to school, you still have to send it in.

This is the start of a three-year program to go completely paperless. Anna Mastee is an English teacher at St. Augustine. She said integrating this technology into the classroom is both beneficial for students and the teachers.

"This has really revolutionized the way that I teach in my classes, I have more student engagement because I am moving away from the traditional paper, pencil work sheet type of learning and we are not doing more authentic things with apps."

The school said students like using their I-Pads, so they don't have a problem with them not bringing it. St. Augustine has a charging station in the library.

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